Mary Anne Roberts, Died Feb. 5, 2018

Mary Anne Roberts

Died Feb. 5, 2018

PESHAWBESTOWN – Mary Anne Roberts, 77, of Peshawbestown, walked-on to greet her relatives and ancestors on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018 at home surrounded by her loving family.

Mary Anne was born at home in Peshawbestown to the late Eno Joseph and Helen Agnes (Blackman) McSawby on Aug. 17, 1940.  Her family moved to Grand Rapids when she was five years old but returned every summer from June to September.  Despite the many years she lived and worked in Grand Rapids, Peshawbestown was always her home.

She often said that the happiest memories of her childhood and youth were spent in Peshawbestown, where she worked in the fields and orchards, frolicked in the lake and spent time with friends and relatives.  Mary Anne was a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and was extremely proud of her native heritage.

Mary Anne attended St. Alphonsus Elementary and Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids but dropped out in the eleventh grade.  She obtained her high school diploma in 1973 from Grand Rapids Public Schools Adult Education.  She obtained an Associate of Arts Degree from Grand Rapids Junior College in 1975, a Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Western Michigan University in 1976 (a 2-year degree which she completed in 1 year) and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Master of Social Work Degree from Western Michigan University in 1978.  She accomplished all of the beforehand as a divorced single parent raising five children and an infant grandson. 

Her professional employment was with Kent County Community Mental Health, Grand Rapids Inter-Tribal Council, Grand Rapids Public Schools Social Work Dept and 17^th Circuit Court Family Division (formerly Kent County Juvenile Court).  During her professional career, she served on numerous non-profit native and non-native Boards of Directors in Grand Rapids and Lansing.

Mary Anne received accolades from these boards from the City of Grand Rapids for her dedicated service.  She retired in 2001 after twenty years of employment at the 17^th Circuit Court, eight of those years as a family crisis counselor and twelve as supervisor of the Crisis Intervention and Adolescent Sex Treatment Programs.  She then fulfilled her life-long dream of returning home to her beloved Peshawbestown.

She enjoyed various activities at various times in her life playing softball, bowling, swimming, playing cards, attending friends, co-worker’s softball games, sailing, serving on pow-wow committees and participating in cultural activities and events.

Mary Anne was an avid reader of diverse publications and especially enjoyed reading the comic section of newspapers and magazines.  She appreciated good humor, expressing her appreciation with a hearty laugh.  She enjoyed listening to music and always had her car radio playing with driving.  Mary Anne’s favorite music was Motown and B.B. King-style blues.  She was kind, humble, respectful and cordial.

She enjoyed the simple pleasures of life and always put the needs of her family and others before her own.  She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.  Mary Anne lost her mother to cancer at the age of 14 and all of her grandparents by age 5 so she knew the heartache of not having their wisdom and guidance in her life and made every effort to always be there for her family.

Mary Anne counseled, nurtured, advised, praised, consoled, transported and most of all, provided unending support, love and encouragement to her family.  She was a respected “auntie” to many GTB community members.  Mary Anne hoped to be remembered for her smile and warm hugs.  She cherished her trips to California to spend time with her oldest son, Joe and family through the years.  For many years, she walked the track and used other equipment at the Strong Heart Center.  It was a great honor and privilege for her to have served her tribe and community as a Tribal Court Appellate Judge for several years.

Mary Anne married Jerry Joe Roberts in a traditional Anishinaabe Midewiwin ceremony at George and Sidney Martin’s property in Hopkins, MI officiated by Mouz Pamp and Eddie Benton-Banai on Oct. 28. 1978.

They followed the Pow-Wow Trail throughout Michigan in their earlier years and maintained life-long friendships established during those times.  They sailed Lake Michigan and several in-land lakes.  After retirement, they were faithful and proud attendees at their grandson’s football and baseball games.  They had great adventures and thrilling experiences traveling to exotic destinations on fun-filled trips and cruises with their nephew, Rick, and the Hebel family.  They enjoyed participating in family gatherings, elder lunches and activities, and other GT events.  Their blended family included nine children.

Mary Anne is survived by her husband Jerry; her children, Helen Chippewa, Joseph (Petra) Ferrere, Michelle Stewart, Michael Ferrere, Lanelle (Curtis, Sr.) Vos, Chad Roberts, Shawn (Imo) Roberts, Elizabeth (Brandi) Roberts, Andrew Luna, and many loving grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 9 with the family greeting friends at 11 a.m., also at the funeral home.  Mary Anne’s cousin, Mr. Paul Raphael will officiate.  Burial in Kateri Tekakwitha Cemetery will be announced in the spring.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in honor of her family’s military veterans: her father (Army WWII), brother, Army Air-Corps, Korea), husband, Marine Corps, Vietnam), son Joseph (Marine Corps, peace time), and grandson Curtis (Army, Iraq); please direct memorials to Wounded Warrior Project,

Condolences may be shared with Mary Anne’s family below or at the funeral home Facebook page: